Capping Apparatus for Beverage Container

ABSTRACT

A capping apparatus includes a cap, a guiding element, an elastic tube and a switch. The cap is made with an aperture. The guiding element is pivotally connected to the cap between a lowered position and a lifted position. The elastic tube is formed with an end inserted in the guiding element and another end connected to the cap so that a space in the elastic tube is in communication with the aperture of the cap. The switch is movably connected to the cap and operable to allow the movement of the guiding element into the lifted position from the lowered position.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a beverage container such as a bottleand a cup and, more particularly, to a capping apparatus for a beveragecontainer.

2. Related Prior Art

There are various capping apparatuses for bottles or cups. A type of thecapping apparatuses includes a ring and a cover pivotally connected tothe ring. The ring is adapted for connection to a bottle or a cup viathreads. The cover can be pivoted between a lowered position and alifted position. In the lifted position, the capping apparatus allows auser to drink beverage from the bottle or the cup via the ring. Thebeverage however may rush into the user's throat and hence choke theuser.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide abeverage container with a capping apparatus that enables a user to drinkfrom the cup smoothly.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the capping apparatus includes acap, a guiding element, an elastic tube and a switch. The cap includesan aperture. The guiding element is pivotally connected to the capbetween a lowered position and a lifted position. The elastic tube isformed with an end connected to the guiding element and another end incommunication with the aperture. The switch is movably connected to thecap and operable to allow the guiding element to move between the liftedposition and the lowered position.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description referring to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration offour embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a capping apparatus according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the capping apparatus in anotherposition than shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a capping apparatus according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the capping apparatus in anotherposition than shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a capping apparatus according to thethird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the capping apparatus in anotherposition than shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a capping apparatus according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the capping apparatus in anotherposition than shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a capping apparatus according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. The capping apparatusincludes a cap 10 and an elastic tube 12. The cap 10 includes a disc 14,an upper rim 16 and a lower rim 18.

The upper rim 16 extends from an upper face of the disc 14. The lowerrim 18 extends from a lower face of the disc 14.

The disc 14 includes a tubular stem 20 and a convex portion 22, bothextending from the upper face of the disc 14. The tubular stem 20includes an aperture 24 through which a space above the disc 14 is incommunication of liquid with a space below the disc 14. The convexportion 22 is made with a vent 26 via which the space above the disc 14is in communication of air with the space below the disc 14.

The upper rim 16 includes a cutout (not numbered) made in a portionthereof far from the convex portion 22. A switch 28 is located in thecutout. A switch 28 is connected to the upper rim 16 so that the switch28 can be pivoted between a vertical position and a tilted position. Theswitch 28 is normally located in the vertical position. The switch 28includes a rounded upper end 29.

A guiding element 30 is connected to the upper rim 16 so that theguiding element 30 can be pivoted between a lowered position and alifted position. The guiding element 30 is biased into the loweredposition by a torque spring 34. The guiding element 30 is formed with anarched lower face 31 in contact with the switch 28. The guiding element30 is located between the convex portion 22 and the switch 28. Theguiding element 30 is made with a channel 32.

An end of the elastic tube 12 is located around and connected to thetubular stem 20. Another end of the elastic tube 12 is inserted in thechannel 32. The elastic tube 12 can be pivoted between a loweredposition and a lifted position together with the guiding element 30.

A blocking element 36 extends from the guiding element 30. The blockingelement 36 is a plug made with a tip corresponding to the vent 26.

The lower rim 18 includes a thread 38 extending on an internal facethereof. The thread 38 is used for engagement with a thread formed on acup (not shown). Thus, the capping apparatus is connected to the cup.

Referring to FIG. 1, the guiding element 30 is biased into the loweredposition by the torque spring 34. The switch 28 is located in thevertical position. The tip of the blocking element 36 is inserted in andblocks the vent 26 so that air cannot enter the cup via the vent 26. Avacuum would be produced in the cup if liquid should go out of the cupvia the aperture 24 because the aperture 24, which is small, would beblocked by the liquid and not allow air to go through it. Such vacuumstops the liquid from leaving the cup.

Referring to FIG. 2, the switch 28 is pivoted into the tilted position.The rounded upper end 29 of the switch 28 smoothly slides on the archedlower face 31 of the guiding element 30 so that the switch 28 pushes andhence pivots the guiding element 30 upwards into the lifted position.The tip of the blocking element 36 is moved out of the vent 26 to allowair to enter the cup via the vent 26. No vacuum is produced in the cupwhen the liquid goes out of the cup via the aperture 24 because air isallowed to enter the cup via the vent 26. There is no vacuum to stop theliquid from leaving the cup.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is a capping apparatus according to asecond embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment isidentical to the first embodiment except several things. Firstly, thereis a pressing element 40 extending from the upper rim 16. The pressingelement 40 is made with a tip. Secondly, the guiding element 30 is madewith an aperture 42 in communication with the channel 32. Secondly, aswitch 44 is used instead of the switch 28. The switch 44 is movablebetween two positions. The switch 44 is an elongated element thatincludes a button 46 formed at an end thereof and a hunch 48 formed atan opposite end thereof. The hunch 48 includes a peak. Thirdly, ablocking element 50 is used instead of the blocking element 36. Theblocking element 50 is a tab instead of a plug. The blocking element 50extends from the hunch 48. Fourthly, a compression spring 52 is usedinstead of the torque spring 34. The compression spring 52 is compressedbetween the upper rim 16 and the hunch 48 or the blocking element 50.

Referring to FIG. 3, the switch 44 is biased into the first position bythe compression spring 52. The guiding element 30 is kept in the loweredposition by the peak of the hunch 48. The elastic tube 12 is pressed andhence blocked by the tip of the pressing element 40, which is insertedinto the channel 32 through the aperture 42. The vent 26 is blocked bythe blocking element 50. The liquid is prevented from leaving the cup.

Referring to FIG. 4, the button 46 is pushed to move the switch 44 intothe second position. The compression spring 52 is further loaded. Thepeak of the hunch 48 is moved from the guiding element 30 to allow theelastic tube 12 to extend to move the guiding element 30 into the liftedposition. Because of the inherent elasticity, the elastic tube 12stretches and moves itself from the tip of the pushing element 40, i.e.,the elastic tube 12 is not blocked. The blocking element 50 is movedfrom the convex portion 22. That is, the vent 26 is not blocked by theblocking element 50. The liquid is allowed to go out of the cup.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is a capping apparatus according to athird embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment isidentical to the second embodiment except several things. Firstly, theswitch 44 is pivotally connected to the guiding element 30. Secondly,the compression spring 52 is compressed between the upper rim 16 and theguiding element 30 instead of the switch 44. The guiding element 30 isdirectly biased into the lowered position by the compression spring 52.Hence, there is no need for any hunch on the switch 44.

Referring to FIG. 5, the guiding element 30 is directly biased into thelowered position by the compression spring 52. The switch 44 is biasedinto the first position by the guiding element 30. The elastic tube 12is pressed and thus blocked by the tip of the pushing element 40, whichis inserted into the channel 32 via the aperture 42. The vent 26 isblocked by the blocking element 50. The liquid is prevented from leavingthe cup.

Referring to FIG. 6, the button 46 is pushed to move the switch 44 intothe second position. The compression spring 52 is further loaded. Theguiding element 30 is pivoted into the lifted position by the switch 44.The elastic tube 12 is moved from the tip of the pushing element 40.That is, the elastic tube 12 is not blocked. The blocking element 50 ismoved from the convex portion 22. That is, the vent 26 is not blocked bythe blocking element 50. The liquid is allowed to go out of the cup.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is a capping apparatus according to afourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment isidentical to the third embodiment except that the pressing element 40 isin contact with elastic tube 12 without having to extend through anyaperture made in the guiding element 30.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustrationof the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations fromthe embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of thepresent invention defined in the claims.

1. A capping apparatus comprising: a cap including an aperture therein;a guiding element pivotally connected to the cap between a loweredposition and a lifted position; an elastic tube comprising an endconnected to the guiding element and another end in communication withthe aperture; and a switch movably connected to the cap and operable toallow the guiding element to move between the lifted position and thelowered position.
 2. The capping apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe cap further comprises a vent.
 3. The capping apparatus according toclaim 2, including a blocking element for blocking the vent when theguiding element is in the lowered position.
 4. The capping apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the blocking element and the guidingelement are made in one piece.
 5. The capping apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the guiding element includes an arched face, whereinthe switch includes an end that slides on the arched face of the guidingelement to move the guiding element into the lifted position from thelowered position.
 6. The capping apparatus according to claim 1,including a spring that forces the guiding element into the loweredposition.
 7. The capping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thespring is a torque spring including an end connected to the cap andanother end connected to the guiding element.
 8. The capping apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the switch is pivotally connected to thecap.
 9. The capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switchis rectilinearly movable connected to the cap.
 10. The capping apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the switch includes a button operable tomove the switch from a first position into a second position, whereinthe guiding element is in the lowered position as the switch is in thefirst position, wherein the guiding element is in the lifted position asthe switch is in the second position.
 11. The capping apparatusaccording to claim 10, including a spring compressed between the switchand the cap.
 12. The capping apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe switch includes a hunch in contact with the guiding element.
 13. Thecapping apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the elastic tubestretches into the lifted position due to inherent elasticity.
 14. Thecapping apparatus according to claim 10, including a spring compressedbetween the guiding element and the cap.
 15. The capping apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the switch is pivotally connected to theguiding element.